Governor McAuliffe joined Visa officials to launch the new Visa Cyber Fusion Center last week in Ashburn. The Center is a secure facility that enables rapid cyber threat detection and centralized command and control for cyber operations. The launch of the Cyber Fusion Center, which was also attended by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and Attorney General Mark Herring, adds to a growing list of significant cyber assets located in the Commonwealth.
“Our administration has been working hard to build a new Virginia economy and make the Commonwealth the leader in cybersecurity for this nation and around the globe,” said Governor McAuliffe. “I am proud that the Commonwealth is a key partner with Visa in its efforts to provide world-class security and reliability for its customers. We are committed to creating a highly skilled cyber workforce to make sure that Visa and other companies can continue to grow here in the Commonwealth. Our budget includes funding for cybersecurity scholarships and apprenticeships, as well as support for colleges and universities seeking to establish Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. These investments will enable us to keep Virginia out front in the cybersecurity sector.”
“The new Cyber Fusion Center, launched today with Governor McAuliffe, gives our cyber operations team a central hub for identifying new and emerging fraud trends and coordinating our information sharing efforts,” said Bill Sheedy, Global Executive of Corporate Strategy, M&A, Government Relations at Visa. “As home to one of our largest data centers, and the new Cyber Fusion Center, the Commonwealth of Virginia has been a critical partner in Visa’s efforts to maintain the security and reliability of the world’s largest payment network.”
“This state-of-the-art Cyber Fusion Center shows that Virginia continues to be at the forefront of the growing cybersecurity market and a national hub for innovative cyber technology. Cyberattacks present a critical threat to our national security and our economy, and both the private and the public sector need to be better prepared to address the escalating threats posed by hackers out to steal individuals’ personal information. With our unique federal, educational and technology assets, Virginia is poised to take advantage of this growing market, and I’m pleased to partner with Gov. McAuliffe to ensure that we are leveraging all of the resources at our disposal to continue to bring these good jobs here,” said Senator Warner.
“Fortune 500 companies like Visa choose to start and grow in Virginia, and particularly my home of Loudoun County, because we can offer the highly skilled workforce, infrastructure, and quality of life they’re looking for,” said General Herring. “In my two years as attorney general, we have been notified of more than 600 data breaches involving the personal and financial information of Virginians, from a single lost hard drive to massive hacks affecting hundreds of thousands. With these kinds of threats growing in frequency and sophistication, facilities and expertise like this will be increasingly important to our economic success.”
“The establishment of the Visa Cyber Fusion Center in Virginia validates that the work being done by the Governor and our Cyber Commission to strengthen Virginia’s cyber leadership is having a positive impact. The Cyber Fusion Center plays a primary role in securing all of Visa’s transactions worldwide and is an outstanding addition to Virginia’s cyber portfolio,” said Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson.
“Visa’s continued investment in Virginia is a clear testament to the Governor’s leadership in cybersecurity and his commitment to make Virginia a national cybersecurity leader. This Center also demonstrates that Virginia’s great talent, infrastructure, and business environment help businesses expand and attract new firms to the Commonwealth. The new Fusion Center facilitates more than 50 cybersecurity jobs and will continue to add additional jobs over the next few years to spur economic activity,” said Secretary of Commerce Maurice Jones.
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